Lanzhou Tour of
The First Bridge Over the Yellow River

Zhongshan Bridge, also called the first bridge over the
Yellow River, lies at the foot of Bai Ta Mountain and in front of
Jin Cheng Pass in Lanzhou city, the capital of Gansu Province.

Before Zhongshan Bridge was built there were many
floating bridges over the Yellow River, but only one existed for a
relatively long period. This bridge was called Zhen Yuan Floating
Bridge and was made up of more than 20 ships, tied up by ropes and
chains. It floated on the river in order to help people pass over,
but it was neither solid nor safe enough. Almost every year floods
destroyed the bridge or even killed people. Problem also arose in
the winter, when ice would build up on the river, so the bridge
would have to undergo the costly process of being disassembled and
then re-built in the spring. Used for over 500 years, the Zhen Yuan
Floating Bridges was finally retired in 1909, when an iron bridge
was built. This new bridge is what we call the First Bridge over the
Yellow River.

In the year 1907, under the proposal of local officers
in Lanzhou and Gansu and the help of a Germany businessman, the Qing
Government began to build this first iron bridge over the upper
reaches of the Yellow River. All materials, even the rivets, were
transported from Germany to China using ships, trains, carts and any
other means possible. The bridge was completed in two years, and
named 'Lanzhou Iron Bridge over the Yellow River'. In 1942, to
commemorate Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the bridge was re-named Zhongshan
Bridge (Zhongshan is the Chinese name of Dr. Sun Yat-sen).

The service life of the Zhongshan Bridge expired in
1989, and so about 10 bridges have already been built nearby. Even
more bridges are planned to replace the Zhongshan Bridge's work, but
none can replace its great value in history or its great work over
its 80 years. The Zhongshan Bridge will be remembered forever as a
piece of history and a cultural relic.

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